Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-12-10
nLnRcKEsTEaD.
How I, Thrills a Man After Ions
Absence.


evening to a portly, finely dressed
man in the corridor OF the st. James
The gentleman stopped. shook hands
with his friend, and replied, I've been
home to see my old father and moth
err, the first time in sixteen years, ana
/ tell you, old man, | wouldn't have
missed that visit for all my fortune
"Kinder good to visit your boy
hood home, ehH"
"You bet. Sit down. ! was Just
thinking about the old folks, and feel
laxative. Ii you have a few mo
ments to spare, SIT down, light q
cigar, and listen to a story OF rlch
man who had almost forgotten his
father and mother" II,
They sat down, and the man told
his story.
"How came to visit my home hap
pened in u curious way. Six weeks
ago | went downto Fire Island fishing.
had u lunch put up at Crook x
Nash's, and you can imagine my as
tonishment when opened the hamper
to find package OF crackers wrapped
up in a piece OF newspaper. That
newspaper was the little patent inside
country weekly published at my
home in Wisconsin. ! read every
word in it, advertisements and all.
There was George kellogg, who was a
schoolmate OF mine, advertising hams
aud salt pork, and another boy was
postmaster BY George! it made me
homesick, and | determined then and
there to 20 home, and go home ! did.
I'm the first place | must tell you
how | came to New York. | had . TN
with my father and left home. ! final
ly turned up in New York with dol
lar in my pocket. got Job running
a freight elevator in the very house "a
which | am now a partner My haste
TO ret rich drove the thought OF my
parents from me, and when | did
think of th-m the hard words that
my father last spoke TO me ranked in
my bosom. Well, went home. dl Int
see much change in Chicago, but the
new depot in Milwaukee, |
thought was an improvement on the
old shed that they used to have. It
was only thirty miles from Milwaukee
to my home, and | tell you, John, that
train seemed to creep. was actually
worse than schoolboy going home
tor vacation. At last we neared the
town. Familiar sights met my eyes
and, darn it all they filled with tears
There was Bill Lyman's red barn, just
the same; but, great Scott! what were
all OF the other houses We rode
nearly a mile before coming to the
depot, through houses where
only occasionally saw one that was
familiar. The town had grown TO ten
times it's size when knew it, The
train stopped and | Jumped oil. Not
. tace in sight that knew, and
started down the platform to 20
home. In the Office door stood the
station agent. | walked up and said
Howdy, Mr. Collins"
''He stared at me and replied,
You We got the best oil ME. sir.
81 told him who was and what
lad been doing III New York. and be
iidnt make any bones in talking to
ne. Said ne; Its about time YOU
anne home. You in New York rich,
md your father scratching gravel to
ret a bare living
II tell you, John, il knocked ME all
n n heap. | thought my father had
nough to live upon comfortably.
Then notion struck me. Before 20
ne home telegraphed to Chicago to
me OF our correspondents there
o send me 81 900 by first
nail. went into Mr.. Collins
,ack office, got my trunk in
here aud put on an old hand ,me-doYn
nit that | use Tor fishing and hunt.
ng. My plug hat replaced by a soft
at, took my valise in my hand, and
;ent home. Somehow the place didn't
0ok right. The currant bushes had
zen dug up from the front yard and
he fence was gone. All the old locust
rees had been cut down aud young
naples were planted. The house
ooked smaller somehow, too. But
rent up to the front door and rang the
ell. Mother came TO the door and
aid: we don't wish TO buy anything
o-day. sir
ut didn't take me a minute to sur
ey her from head to foot. Neatly
rested, John, but n patch and n
arm here and there, her hair streakcd
18th gray, her face thin, drawn, and
.rinkled. Yet over her eyeglasses
hone those good, honest, benevolent
yes. Istood staring at her and then
ne began to stare at me. / saw the
lood rush into her face and with a
'eat sob she threw herself upon me
nd nervously clasped me about the
eek Historically crying; IT'S Jimmy,
g Jimmy
"Then cried, too, John. | lust
roke down and cried like baby.
he got me into the house, hupging
nd kissing me, and then she went 10
ne back door and shouted 'Georcep
Father came in in u moment and
ON the kitchen asked, "What Won
ant, Car liner
Then he came in. He knew mo IN
moment. He stuck out his hand
nd grasped mine, and said, sternly.
ven, young man do you propose to
,have yourself now?'
HE tried to put on brave front
1t he broke down. There we three
.t, like whipped school children, all
hlmperlng. At last supper time
me and mother went QUIT prepare
went into the kitchen with /
II.
do you live, jimmy she
"'In New York, replied.
What you workin' at now, Jim.
"'Pm working n dry goodsssore.'
! suppose you don't live
ny high, for ] hear tell o. them citv
,rks what don't get enough money
keep body and soul together. ~
J just tell you, Jimmy, We got moth.
but roast spareriDs for aunnar